The Historical Perspective of Russian Turn to the East: How Russia Became an Eastern Power in XXI Century

Abstract

Russia’s so-called “turn to the East” policy has become one of the widely discussed issues among other issues in contemporary international relations. The new strategic relations with China and the beginning of a new era in Sino-Russian bilateral relations are the most representative results of the “turn to the East”. The history behind these relations is a factor with tend to be ignored by those discussing the matter. However, the historical view of Sino-Russian relations can provide us with new horizons in their interpretation. This article analyses the “turns to the East” from a historical point of view and theorizes new approaches towards their conceptualization. From the historical point of view, Russia’s “turns to the East” can potentially help the two countries overcome very profound obstacles in bilateral relations, such as the problem of Russia’s image in China after the border disputes with the Qing Empire. Undoubtedly, the “turns to the East” policy’s implications in the economic development of Russian Far East is one of the central topics. As well, the historical analysis of this policy can enrich nowadays discussion about Russian identity and Russia’s position in the East-West paradigm. Also, this article draws attention to the commercial aspect of Sino-Russian relations, which nowadays still represent an important criterion in judging the “turn to the East” policy’s effectiveness. By including examples of other countries’ relations with China, we tried to underline how history has become an instru- ment for developing relations with modern China and how this opportunity is applicable in the Sino-Russian context too.